The Hornets’ men’s team will also look similar to last season, with Tarkyn Benbow, Cody Bryan, Micah Livingstone, Mitch Martin, Tim McCormick, Levi Munyard, Ryan Pfitzner, Jeremy Williamson and Judd Wright returning, while 2024 grand final MVP Austin ‘Aussie’ McKenzie will return after a year away from the team, joined by brothers Jermiah and Elijah.
With head coach Scott Benbow also returning to helm the men’s side, Horsham Amateur Basketball Association president Matt Lovel said both teams would benefit from strong continuity.
“That’s something we wanted to instill in the program, that continuity with our coaches. That way the players know what to expect when they come into the season,” he said.
“We got our tryouts done a little bit earlier this year, and I think we had record numbers for tryouts, which was pleasing.
“The women’s team is pretty much exactly the same as last season, which is good, because you obviously want players returning.
“They’re a good, young group, and that’s a focus of both the teams – making sure we’re getting those younger players through the ranks.
“The girls finished off really strong last year and they’ve been training really, really well – all the coaches are pretty happy with how we’re tracking at this point in time.”
Lovel said adding the McKenzie brothers to a men’s team that narrowly lost a semi-final to Mount Gambier last season would put the Hornets firmly in the premiership mix.
“It’ll be handy to have them in the side. They’ve got a fair bit of height – they’re all at about that six-foot-four or six-foot-five sort of size,” he said.
“Ararat and Millicent aren’t playing in the men’s competition this year, but Mount Gambier is always pretty strong and Portland should be making a run in the finals as well.
“Warrnambool has always got a lot of good young players and Terang made the grand final last year.
“It should be a pretty competitive season all around. We’re excited to see where both teams go.”
Draws for the CBL south-west conference were yet to be finalised when The Weekly Advertiser went to print yesterday.
Lovel said the men’s team was due to play an away game in Hamilton to start the season this weekend.
The entire September 30, 2026 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!
